Transport Minister Dr Ling Liong Sik said that he wanted the police to expedite investigation into the case against him and two others brought about by a New York-based Austrian businessman.

Ling, who is MCA president, said he wanted police to investigate "as soon as possible" the report lodged by businessman, Franz C Heldwein in Kuala Lumpur o­n Friday.

In today's Star , Ling said he wanted to know the truth behind the allegations and would cooperate 100 percent with the police.

However, the MCA-controlled Star, dubbed the "people's paper" did not carry a single line of the police report lodged by Heldwein against the MCA president in its issue yesterday. The story was carried by all the local papers with the afternoon tabloid Malay Daily giving it front-page treatment.

Heldwein had alleged that he had entered into business deals with Ling, his son Hee Leong and businessman Soh Chee Wen, resulting in his company incurring losses.

Recover losses

Heldwein, in a report lodged at the Jalan Travers police station, said he intended to institute legal proceedings to recover his losses, adding that he would file a suit "as soon as we get the papers together".

Heldwein alleged that he lost RM100 million because a deal to supply speed tracking devices for commercial vehicles in 1997 failed to materialise.

He claimed that Ling and Soh were business partners who had led him into believing that he could secure the deal.

According to a New Straits Times report today, Ling denied having offered a confidential survey map of the country to Heldwein in exchanges for shares as part of the deal which later turned sour.

"I don't understand why now, after six years, the investor is lodging a police report. I deny any wrongdoing," he said.

Cannot remember Heldwein

Contacted by the NST yesterday, Ling said: "If it's a legal matter, I'll leave it to my lawyers...we will deal with it at that level."

Asked whether he remembered Heldwein, Ling said he did not.

On the same matter, Ling told the paper today that "we meet so many people everyday and I cannot remember if I have met him".

Meanwhile, Soh was quoted as saying in the Malay Mail yesterday that there was a business dealing between him, Heldwein and Ling. However, he declined to elaborate.

Soh said he would wait until the suit is filed before commenting further.